Faculty Spotlight

"My long-term goal is to promote intercultural understanding and communication in the field of education."

An expert in multilingual education, Dr. Martine Jago, associate professor of education, brings 15 years of experience to the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP). Jago is fluent in English, French, and German; proficient in Spanish, Italian, and Dutch; and currently learning Korean. "My long-term goal is to promote intercultural understanding and communication in the field of education,” Jago said of her interest in teaching.

Jago believes foreign language is an important skill to impart on children from an early age. Her dissertation, "Foreign Languages in Early Schooling: Policy, Pupils, and Processes,” explored the impact of policy on practice throughout the school setting, and how policy can improve the curriculum to help children learn foreign languages. Because of her contributions, Jago was appointed a fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce in London, England, and invited to a ceremony at Buckingham Palace at which she met the Queen.

Jago teaches "Introduction to Research and Assessment," "Psychological Foundations of Education," and "Teacher Education Institute," among other classes. In addition, she serves as the academic chair of teacher education. But Jago's efforts don't stop there. She teaches dance to members of her community, and is a captain of the Civil Air Patrol in the US Air Force Auxiliary, an organization for youth.